Early look at state football possibilities

Which Central Coast Section football teams have the best shot at state championship berths? The answer is Serra and Palma, according to the Cal-Hi Sports preseason rankings and the Calpreps.com computer ratings.

Both organizations agree on the Division II and III choices, but have a difference of opinion on the South’s Division I representive. Here are the projected matchups:

Division I: De La Salle of Concord vs. Long Beach Poly (Cal-Hi Sports) or J.W. North of Riverside (Calpreps)

In both Division I evaluations, Serra is rated as the second-best team from the north. Cal-Hi Sports has Oak Grove rated No. 4 with Calpreps rating the Eagles No. 5.

In Division II, Palo Alto is rated as the No. 2 team by Calpreps, but is unranked in both the NorCal and Division rankings by Cal-Hi Sports. Calpreps rates Archbishop Mitty as the No. 3 team from the north.

In Division III, Palma is rated No. 2 in the north by Calpreps and No. 3 by Cal-Hi Sports.

Of course, this is just a starting point for the debate on who will be chosen by the CIF’s selection committee. Going into the CCS playoffs, Palo Alto was hardly seen as a contender for the north’s Division II berth, but its surprising run to the CCS Open Division title changed things.

You never know how the season will develop. Perhaps there is another surprise out there.